Compare towns

Lebanon vs Exeter vs White River Junction vs Hartford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureLebanonExeterWhite River JunctionHartford
People
Population
14,999
16,151Highest
3,364Lowest
10,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5
U.S.: 22%
18%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Lebanon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,147±$10k
22% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$78,125±$7k
3% below U.S.
Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$385,400±$29k
16% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
$304,500±$26k
8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,744±$132
23% above U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,149
161% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
$5,773
85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
15 min
42% below U.S.
18 min
30% below U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lebanon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #29 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH — #34 of 70 in VT
School district Lebanon School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District — Hartford School District
High school in town Lebanon High School Exeter High School — Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7
12.1Highest
—
9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 59 photos → None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.